Jindaiji Botanical Gardens: March 20, 2012

Today is Spring Equinox Day and is a national holiday. I visited Botanical Gardens at Jindaiji in Chofu City, western Tokyo, to enjoy spring flowers.

There were more than 200 Ume (Japanese apricot) trees in the Ume garden. Four colors of Ume – white, red, pink and yellow -- were fully open. It was the most beautiful Ume blossom I saw this year.

There were many families and couples. Elder people in wheel chairs were also enjoying the blossom.


A painter was painting the view in a big camvas.

I also found many spring flowers including Cornus officinalis (dogwood, sanshu), Far East Amur adonis (fukujusou), and Oriental paper bush (mitsumata).

I also visited Jindaiji Temple next to the gardens. The temple as well as the approach toi it was crowded with many visitors. I took a bowl of soba (Japanese noodle) at a restaurant along the approach. Jindaiji is famous as a place to offer good soba.